Monday, November 01, 2010

You guys. I'm so not (quite) ready for this. It's only November 1st and in English language cinema we've already had at least three awards lineups outside of the film festivals: NY's Gotham Awards, Australia's AFI, and now BIFA... which translates to the British Independent Film Awards.

BIFA considers Oscar-buzzing Lesley Manville as "Supporting"

It will surprise virtually no one that the Oscar hopeful Brit films like The King's Speech (and all of its actors), Made in Dagenham and Another Year are in play for various prizes. It may surprise some that the indifferently received Never Let Me Go, the divisive Kick-Ass, and the largely undiscussed Brighton Rock received multiple nominations as well.

A complete list of nominees (with Oscar-adjacent comments) follows after the jump but I shan't clog the main page with these über long lists that each awards groups hands out.

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM

Four Lions

Kick-Ass

The King’s Speech

Monsters

Never Let Me Go

Interesting that Another Year did not make the "Best Film" list, despite important nominations elsewhere. BIFA has no problem with "genre" films as evidenced by the inclusion of both Monsters & Kick-Ass. I'm sure there will be pockets of online rejoicing if this film gets an awards run. I'd like to kick the ass of anyone who votes for it though. Metaphorically speaking! I'm mostly a pacifist. Plus an 11 year-old girl could probably kick my ass in real life, even if she didn't have Hit Girl's training.

I was confused about Rowan's nomination here until I remembered this wasn't Roland Joffe but his son. Clio Barnard (pictured left) recently on "best newcomer" at the BFI London Film Festival for the same film. It's a documentary that's also apparently an acted biopic (it's one of those uncategorizables) about the playwright Andrea Dunbar and her experience growing up in a housing project in Northern England.

I suspect this is the only place we'll see honors for Jim Broadbent because Ruth Sheen has the screentime in Another Year and Lesley Manville the showiest character. More pointedly: anyone wanna wager how many Best Actor prizes Colin Firth is going to have to accept this year.... 5? 10? 15? 20? 25? All? I always forget to count but I think there's something crazy like 30+ prizes one can win during precursor and Oscar season.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Lesley Manville - Another Year

Helena Bonham Carter - The King’s Speech

Rosamund Pike - Made In Dagenham

Keira Knightley - Never Let Me Go

Tamsin Greig - Tamara Drewe

Interesting that in the two "local" awards so far (this and the AFI) we've seen Oscar contenders show up in the opposite category in which they've been pegged for Oscar consideration. It's safe to assume that Jacki Weaver would only be Supporting in her American awards run (despite the "lead" vote in Australia, where she's "a national treasure" according to her director and co-stars) but Manville could obviously go either way, depending on how the Another Year campaign plays out. The most interesting inclusion here is Rosamund Pike. She has a couple really great scenes in Dagenham -- and was my favorite supporting actress in the film -- but I had expected that Miranda Richardson, a more well known 'prestige' actress, would be the one to win honors and Oscar traction. Maybe not?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Kayvan Novak - Four Lions

Guy Pearce - The King’s Speech

Geoffrey Rush - The King’s Speech

Bob Hoskins - Made In Dagenham

Andrew Garfield - Never Let Me Go

<-- Hi, Kayvan! Nice to meet'cha. About this list: I'm pleased for Garfield. As you know, I really loved him in that movie. Meanwhile: This is the first memory jog I've been given that Guy Pearce is in The King's Speech since all the buzz and the trailer attention and whatnot is on the central three characters (Geoffrey, Helena and Colin).

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

Manjinder Virk - The Arbor

Andrea Riseborough - Brighton Rock

Tom Hughes - Cemetery Junction

Joanne Froggatt - In Our Name

Conor McCarron - Neds

Riseborough (pictured right in Toronto -- must have been a crazy year for her) was amazing in Never Let Me Go with almost nothing to work with and also highly watchable in Made in Dagenham in another sideshow role so I'm curious if she's even better in Brighton Rock with a big meaty role? Is more truly more with Andrea? I'm intrigued.

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION

The Arbor

In Our Name

Monsters

Skeletons

Streetdance 3D

RAINDANCE AWARD

Brilliant Love

Jackboots On

Whitehall Legacy

Son of Babylon

Treacle Junior

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

The Arbor - Sound - Tim Barker

Brighton Rock - Cinematography - John Mathieson

The Illusionist - Animation - Sylvain Chomet

The King’s Speech - Production Design - Eve Stewart

Monsters - Visual Effects - Gareth Edwards

BEST DOCUMENTARY

The Arbor

Enemies of the People

Exit Through the Gift Shop

Fire In Babylon

Waste Land

BEST BRITISH SHORT

Baby

Photograph Of Jesus

Sign Language

Sis

The Road Home

Wow. I've actually seen one of these. Photography of Jesus, about photo archive requests,is cute and interesting and well animated. You can watch it here. Better yet, it doesn't outstay its welcome (which is always a plus whether we're talking short or feature length films).

BEST FOREIGN FILM

Dogtooth

I Am Love

A Prophet

The Secret In Their Eyes

Winter’s Bone

An odd mix of last year's Oscar nominees (Prophet, Secrets), a current submission (Dogtooth) and two directorial feats that are strangely mostly discussed only in terms of their fine leading actresses (Love, Bone).

NOT YET ANNOUNCED
The Richard Harris (Outstanding Contribution Award), Variety Award and Special Jury Prize have not yet been announced.

I was disappointed with Riseborough in Brighton Rock -- she has her moments, but she's so obviously been told this is the role that she seems to be straining for effect in her big scenes. But if the award is about rewarding promise, she's got it in spades.

Even more than Another Year, the most shockingly neglected films on this list are Neds and The Illusionist.

Neds is good, very good at times, but a bit too overwrought to be truly great. Conor McCarron was, however, brilliant all the way through.

Brighton Rock was so so disappointing, dammit.

Ruth Sheen is solid all the way through and nails the judgmental streak of her film - but she really doesn't have to strain too much does she - definitely not worthy of honours in a vintage Actress year like this year.

Lesley Manville on the other hand - oh my gosh, she broke my heart, put it back together, then broke it again. Love love her in that film. I'd love to see her place in lead but if she goes supporting, she could actually win a very-much deserved Oscar. For Helena Bonham Carter is good, so are KST and AMD in Nowhere Boy, Elle Fanning in Somewhere, Keira in Never Let Me Go... but none of these could ever be considered gold-snagging performances.

I wonder which performance Andrew Garfield will be Oscar nom'd for? I don't really care (great in both) as long as he's an Oscar nominee in a few months time...

cal -- i don't think i'm quite as enthusiastic, no. (but considering the Second Coming raves, that was unlikely) But i did think she was very good in it. and I do want to see it again. so maybe my opinion will shift a bit.

amir -- it does seem like the supporting category needs something truly exciting.